Volltext Seite (XML)
692 THE PHOTOGRAPHIC NEWS. [OcTOBER 30, 1885. mounted in optical contact. There is in these pictures an avoidance of coarse shadows, duo no doubt in great part to sufficient exposure having been given to allow of proper detail appearing throughout. No. 148 has the fault (so common) of trees and sky being vignetted into each other. No. 154, “ The Fortune Teller and other Studies,” is a frame containing, besides two fortune-telling pictures— one of which we reproduce—three field scenes. The back- “ Under Way ” (No. 169), a group (No. 340) in which all the figures are looking at the camera ; and a picture, « Nearing Home ” (No. 341), which we much prefer to either of his other exhibits. In this picture the sky is good, and the effect of the sea is placid and soothing, in harmony with the idea of that rest after labour to which the occupants of the boat are ntitled. ground of the one we have selected, consisting simply of grass and field plants, is very well chosen, and does not distract the eye from the figures. No. 636, “ The Old Well,” is also a pleasing picture. No. 157, "Jesmond Dene,” by John Jackson, is a beautiful scene, artistically treated. No. 502 is an enlargement from the same negative. “Views of the Engadine, Switzerland," by W. Muller (Nos. 161 to 163), have already been mentioned when speaking of the medal pictures ; we now only refer to them as illustrations of the natural beauty given to a picture by absence of halation, and of that “ dodging " of the sky, from which so many of the landscapes exhibited suffer. Mme. Marie Roze (No. 165), by the London Stereoscopic Company, is a portrait of a lady standing upon a carpet or floorcloth, with a wooded background. One foot is placed upon a property set of steps, and a hand rests upon a photo grapher’s balustrade. Other exhibits by this firm, en larged portraits, without accessories of the character re ferred to, are much to be preferred. “Views in Chester field House ” (No. 166), by Dickinsons, display good sound photography. Charles Andre sends some excellent ‘‘Views Inside Westminster Abbey” (No. 167), described as being on “ plates of own make ; " and some charming “ Views in Yorkshire and Durham” (No. 192). In these pictures there is a beautiful aerial perspective, due, no doubt, partly to their having received a proper exposure, and partly to good plates and judicious development, J. Daniels has, besides NOTES FROM NEW YORK. Fall Meeting ok the Society of Amateur Photo graphers of New York—Development of Paper Negatives—Improved Camera—Combined Hoover Shutter and Diaphragm—The Great Flood Rock Explosion—Improved Electrical Standard of Light. During the summer months the chief excitement among photographers here has been the meeting of the Buffalo Convention, which appeared to be more satisfactory in several respects than the. Cincinnati Convention of 1884, as shown by the reports and papers published in previous numbers of the News. Paper negatives, and the ingenious yet simple apparatus for making them, have been the most prominent novelty of the season, and will, doubtless, suggest further improvements which will be likely to simplify the process. 'The advantage paper possesses for largo sized pictures, and the avoidance of hala tion on interiors, is strikingly illustrated in some 24 by 36 negatives we were recently shown, made by Rock wood, of one or two interiors, of churches and a life-sized direct portrait of Robert Bonner, the owner of the New York Ledger, and also some of our fastest horses. The prints were entirely free from grain, and as distinct as if made upon glass. In introducing apparatus of such high order of work manship, the Eastman Dry Plate Company have raised the standard of good apparatus, and rendered a service which will, in the future, be appreciated by amateurs. Some of the first photographs made on their films were exhibited before our Amateur Society here about a year ago, and at its recent September meeting the new process was practically demonstrated by Mr. Cooper, who deve loped negatives at the meeting taken on the same day by means of the improved holder. Respecting the develop ment of the negatives, Mr. Cooper forcibly illustrated the advisability of commencing with a weak solution, and this is about the way he did it. Before commencing his demonstration in development, he mentioned that he had gone out in the afternoon to make some instantaneous exposures to be used in demonstration ; but tbe sun had gone back on him, and so he had to make all his instan taneous pictures without sunlight direct. He didn’t expect much of them, but would try to do the best with them under the circumstances. They wore made from the dock, and exposed upon the steamer Shadij Hide, near Fulton Ferry; looking towards the bridge, it would appear in most of them. The time was between three and four o’clock. The stop used was about half-inch ; a lens of 13-inch back focus, and 24 inches diameter. The shutter used is known as the Prosch, and was worked at about three-fourths of its greatest speed. The lights being all turned out—with the exception of one burner with a ruby chimney attached—Mr. Cooper commenced development, aided by Mr. Jones, who did the cutting of the paper from the spool. The developer used was from the formula given hereinafter, and was composed of— No. 1 2 ounces No. 2 2 „ Water 32 „ This being very dilute, tbe paper sheets, after having been soaked in water about twenty seconds each, were placed as rapidly as possible into it, and, after an interval of about two minutes—which were occupied by Mr. Coupel- answering questions, from various members, pertaining to development, the images began to appear. There were ten 8 by 10 negatives